DoL to Offer Free Fiduciary Workshops for Small Businesses

September 5, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will provide a free workshop this month to help small businesses, employers, employee benefit professionals and others understand their fiduciary responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Topics include the EBSA’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP), an introduction to fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA, and an overview of the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The VFCP (see  Heal Thyself? ) offers an opportunity for fiduciaries to make changes to 19 eligible ERISA transactions. Information will be presented on eligibility for relief of Internal Revenue Service excise taxes and how a fiduciary may contribute funds to its ERISA-covered plan that would otherwise be owed in excise tax.

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The workshop will take place on Thursday, September 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT at the University of Memphis FedEx Institute Of Technology at 365 Innovation Drive in Me, Tennessee.   According to an announcement, the day-long seminar will focus on issues facing small and medium sized employers that may have limited time, resources and access to professional assistance.

Participants seeking more information or to register for the workshop should e-mail or telephone Jennifer Donald ( Donald.Jennifer@dol.gov  and 404-302-3911) or Anedra Williams ( Williams.Anedra@dol.gov and 404-302-3960). You can also fax requests to 404-302-3977. Attendance is limited and registrations should be received by Sept.19. Late registrations will be accepted based on availability.

More information is online at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/FidEdTN.pdf

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